Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had a mali brought to me from a pet store Wed. night to 'see what I could do with it'. They wanted to try to sell him if he got better. I have had him since Thursday. He is 11" TL. You can clearly see his spine all the way down through his tail. I was mixing pedialyte with baby food (sweet potatoes, carrots) and force feeding with a syringe. He has had no change. I can easily open his mouth, but he won't even swallow. He just lets the food slide down his throat. I had to bring a beardie to the vet yesterday and took him along. She said with everything I was doing he probably wouldn't make it. I could relinquish him and she could either do her best or euthanize him. I called the pet store, I told them the situtation and they told me to just bring him back there. Needless-to-say, I came home with him. He is doing worse this morning, but I don't know if I should go ahead and euthanize him (freezer method) or just let him live out his last few hours.

There are more details to this story so please do not criticize if you post. If there are any concerns just ask. I have cried all morning and I really don't know what to do for him. I gave him a name yesterday, Slinky. I believe all animals deserve a name and to be loved no matter how bad off they are.
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Deborah

0.0.1 blue tail monitor
0.1 peach throat monitor
3.1.1 bearded dragons
1.1 furry 4-legged
barking kids
0.1 of the 2-legged
scaleless/furless variety

oh that is so sad. i am sorry if this is your first experience with a uro, usually they are great. so did the pet store do this to the uro?
i have heard people doing the freezer thing before but i am way too much of a wuss to ever do it myself. if you really think he only has a few hours left, i would just try to make him comfortable unless you feel like taking him back to the vet. you can try your best but you can't save them all. he is lucky to have found you and your love, even if it is for a short while. i will be thinking of you all.
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

Yes it is my first experience with a uro. I have always been one of those people that try to save everything. I used to work with rescue organizations for dogs and cats.

He did come to me this way. The pet store had him in a 30 gallon aquarium with a heat rock and no UV. At one point he was housed with a red niger the same size and a baby about half his size.
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Deborah

0.0.1 blue tail monitor
0.1 peach throat monitor
3.1.1 bearded dragons
1.1 furry 4-legged
barking kids
0.1 of the 2-legged
scaleless/furless variety

PLEASE DONT FREEZER HIM. It is a very painfull way to go. My heart goes out to you. I also posted this morning about a uro in similar condition. Here is what we did to get mine through the last few nights and we saw a change with in 2 hours. Go to the vet and get 1cc syrenges with fine tip needles and a bag of ringer soultion (IV soulotion) about 1 inch up fron his back leg place the needle just under the skin and inject 1cc on each side. It Will puff up like a bubble under the skin that is normal. You will see it soak in very quickley. Wait 5 min and do another set. Also if the vet will give it to you get some liquid B12. Do the shots every 1 1/2 - 2 hours untill you see improvement. He may be too far gone but what do you have to loose.

My vet has recommended CO2 for euthanizing lizards over freezer. I don't have access to CO2, but, as an unusual household circumstance, I can use deoxygenated air. I'd wonder how cooled and captured car exhaust would work as the CO content should suffocate the animal all the same and probably faster. Either way, suffocation can take some time.
I don't know that a freezer can be painful if the animal is well asleep by the time it's done.

With your injection are you intending hydration? It was indicated by my vet that an injection under the skin would be "uncomfortable" for the animal and that electrolytes (supplied ot me is Normosol) are preferably injected into the abdominal cavity (push a little further). Because you're inside the abdomen, it's one open space so only one insertion (and one needle) is necessary. To alleviate discomfort from the needle itself, precede injection with a good warm soaking.

I have an animal on a regimen of soaks, electrolyte injections, force feed, antibiotics, and dewormer.
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2.4.0 uromastyx geyri (Saharan/Nigerian)
0.0.4 uromastyx hardwickii (Indian)
2.3.0 uromastyx macfadyeni (Somalian)
1.3.0 uromastyx ocellata (Sudanese)
"Yes, it's a problem. No, I don't want to talk about it."

Oh, you are such a dear! You and slinky (and the rest of your rescues) are in my prayers. Sometimes they are surprising what they can endure, I would think a few needle pricks would be negligible at this point. I would say that the decision to euthanize largely depends on your enotional stamina, and attachement to poor slinky.

If we can do anything to help, please let us know!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

Report it to your local SPCA or whomever is incharge of that in your area.